Rapacious Reader

His Lady's Mistress by Elizabeth Rolls (book review)

2010-03-11T06:50:00.000-08:00

I downloaded His Lady's Mistress by Elizabeth Rolls onto my nook as a free ebook. I am a huge fan of historical romances and settled in for a cozy read.

From start to finish, I loved this book. I have never before read any of Elizabeth Rolls' books, so I didn't know what to expect, like I would with Sabrina Jeffries or Eloisa James.

One thing that struck me about this book was the pain I felt for the main character, Verity Scott. She lost her father and then her identity when she was taken in by her family. I literally felt Verity's pain... the pain of loss, the pain of rejection, the pain of feeling not good enough... I even shed a few tears, the pain was so palpable to me.

If you love historical romances and want to be so engrossed in the story that you feel the characters' emotions - the pain and the joy - this is the book for you. I look forward to finding more books by Ms. Rolls and wholeheartedly agree that this free ebook was worth the read.

Midnight in Madrid book review

2010-02-24T07:20:00.000-08:00

Barnes & Noble offered Noel Hynd's Midnight in Madrid gratis for nook, so I "bought" the free ebook to read. Midnight in Madrid is the second book in the Russian Trilogy; however, I didn't feel I had missed out on much by not having read the first book. This book can stand alone, but like all series, it is probably much better when read in succession. I did feel a little left out of the loop when it came to the main character's back history with the Russian mobster though.

The book opens with Alexandra LaDuca basking on a beach, trying to recharge her batteries after an assignment gone wrong - way wrong - resulting in the death of her fiance. Her phone rings and she is enlisted to travel to Spain to help in the search of an artifact with special significance.

Over the course of her investigation, she is almost killed. She is saved by a mysterious Chinese man, who later turns out to be pivotal to the story line. She is drawn to him, attracted even, and is wary of her developing feelings for him.

What I liked about Midnight in Madrid

I liked the way the book flowed in that the chapters were very short. They jumped all over the place at times, which kind of gave it a movie feel. The short chapters made it easy to stop and place a book mark, but yet the short chapters that jumped all over also made it harder to put down when the plot picked up and began to move faster.

The plot was plausible and the ending left you wanting to read the third book in the trilogy. More about that in a minute...

Another thing I liked about the book was the Catholic overtones. Alex is busy with her investigation, yet she still finds the time to go to church. At times, it was a bit preachy (even for me - and I'm Catholic) but it wasn't an in-your-face kind of thing. She discusses her faith freely and without apology and even admits that she's still finding her way.

SPOILER

As I mentioned, Midnight in Madrid left me interested enough to check into the next book in the trilogy, Countdown in Cairo. I read the blurb on Amazon and now I'm not sure I want to read it, considering the character I just connected with in the last book is zipped into a body bag in the third novel. What a let down! Knowing that takes away any desire I have to read the first book or the third book. Why go emotionally invest myself in the first novel to get the back story, knowing that by the third book it is curtains for Alex?

Maybe I'm just not a huge fan of people killing off my favorite characters. I remember crying for days when Magnum, PI was killed. At any rate, knowing that Alex LaDuca gets killed off was a huge deal breaker for me.

Fired Up, by Jayne Ann Krentz (book review)

2010-01-24T14:54:00.000-08:00

I was giddy with joy this week when my library called me to tell me that I had a book waiting for me at the library - Fired Up, by Jayne Ann Krentz. I recently had gotten a call for Grave Secret and at that time I was well behind in the queue for Fired Up so I wasn't expecting a call so soon. Now I know why I moved up the list so fast - it is because this book was impossible to put down.

Fired Up is the first of the Dreamlight Trilogy (part of the Arcane Society series) and I can't wait to read the next book. The main characters involve Chloe Harper, a talent whose family shies away from anything Arcane society related. The Harper family, shall we say, has a gift for things that tend to lead to illegal activities. Chloe Harper, however, is above board and works as a PI.

Jack Winters comes to her to ask her to locate a family heirloom, a lamp, which he is convinced will be his salvation. He just so happens to need a dreamlight talent like Chloe to work the lamp with him and their troubles really start once she locates the lamp in record time in Las Vegas.

Of course, an Arcane Society book set in the present cannot lack the Nightshade element and this book is no different. Jack and Chloe get tangled up with Nightshade, who wants the lamp for their own sinister purposes.

Fallon Jones is back this time too and it looks like he is going to get his happy ending in a future book.

Overall, I really liked this book. It had a good plot and flowed well enough to keep me interested long after I should have turned out the light and gone to sleep. I started Fired Up yesterday afternoon and finished it this afternoon, having read 3/4 of it yesterday. It was that intriguing. I read the teaser for the next book in the Dream Light trilogy and it looks equally as interesting, to be set in Victorian times.

Arcane Society fans won't be disappointed.

Book Review "Grave Secret" (Harper Connolly) by Charlaine Harris

2010-01-20T18:35:00.000-08:00

I was very excited to get a call from my library to alert me that Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris had finally come in. I had put my name on the list several months ago and was actually surprised that it came so soon considering where I was on the list (pretty far down). However, considering that I returned Grave Secret within 3 days of borrowing it, I can easily see why I got it so quick: It was that good.

Grave Secret begins with Harper and Tolliver traveling back to Texas for a job and a quick visit to see their younger sisters. Sometimes the clients don't like what Harper has to say when she reads graves and the Joyce family was no exception. The revelation that the grandfather had died of fright and his caretaker had died in child birth had rocked the family to the core and the news didn't sit well.

After the grave reading, Harper and Tolliver make their way to Dallas to see their sisters. Unfortunately, danger follows Harper around like a shadow and her brother Tolliver is shot. Harper is now tasked with trying to find out who would try to shoot at them. Add Tolliver's fresh out of prison father to the mix and it's a big mystery filled with family drama. After a second attempt on Harper's life, she begins to wonder if someone really is out to kill her and why. Is it related to a past job? The Joyces? Her sister Cameron?

Family secrets come out of the woodwood work and I'll be honest, I had half of the ending guessed about 3/4 through. Alert readers can pick up on subtle clues and have an idea of the ending. You'll smack your head and say, "Oh yeah!" once the great secrets are revealed. The ends are all tied up, quite tidily. But I'll get to that in a minute....

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SPOILER ALERT - YOU'VE BEEN WARNED! *********************
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Ok, this is the part where I rant about the ending of the book. For four books, we've been following the journey of Tolliver and Harper as they travel around the country to read graves. Their cases were interesting and the books always left us satisfied, yet wanting more. In Grave Secret, the issue of Cameron's killer was resolved. It felt like the author had wrapped up the series, never to write another in the series. I urge her to please not abandon Harper and Tolliver in favor of Sookie. I know that Sookie is immensely popular right now, but Harper is a unique, quirky character. I'd love to read more of her adventures and even have her cross paths again with Manfred. Now that would be interesting.

It just seemed like the ends were all tied up, too tightly and too neatly. When I finished the book, I felt like I'd finished watching the Series Finale of a favorite show. It was too final and I do hope that Harper and Tolliver will be back. She gave us our happy ending and now fans like myself are wondering if it wasn't the end, the big happily ever after.

Book Review of "Homespun Bride" By Jillian Hart

2010-01-20T18:17:00.000-08:00

Upon getting my nook, I immediately started searching BN.com for free ebooks. Jillian Hart's Homespun Bride was free to download and since I enjoy historical romances, I gave it a try.

Homespun Bride is set in Montana Territory in 1883. The main characters, Thad McCaslin and Noelle Kramer meet again after several years after he saves her and her aunt from certain death. Thad had left Noelle waiting for him to come get her so that they could get married. She waited and waited and he never showed. Broken-hearted, she eventually agrees to marry another, but had the engagement broken after she became blind following an accident.

When Thad comes back into Noelle's life, he begins to feel the stirrings of love that he thought he had pushed so far down in his heart that they'd never surface again. Instead, he is even more in love with Noelle than he was the first time he planned to marry her. Will she be able to forgive him? Can a blind woman make a good wife in the harsh territory?

I liked this book for the most part. I haven't read any of the previous McCaslin series, so I would have to say that as a stand alone book, it works. I did feel the romance dragged on a little too long, but this is a Love Inspired romance so there's a heavy helping of faith and a side dish of passion. The characters were almost too chaste, so if you are looking for something with a lot of passion, this book will disappoint.

However, for romance lovers who enjoy reading a romance story where the characters are bound by some morals and don't jump into bed within the first 20 pages of the book, then this is your book. I do enjoy the Love Inspired series quite a lot and pick them up from time to time to ground myself when I've read far too many other romance novels containing graphic sex scenes. I think it is important to remember God as much as possible and a "clean" romance is a nice change of pace.

Note: Homespun Bride is currently free to download at BN.com for your nook, at Amazon for your Kindle and Ereader.com for your Sony Reader.

Hoping to keep this blog up-to-date in the new year

2010-01-05T16:56:00.000-08:00

I admit it, I've been a slacker. Not that I haven't been reading... it is just that many of the books I was reading were for a private site. I had to write a review and writing two just seemed like too much energy. However, in 2010, I do hope to be much better about blogging about what I am reading and/or what I have read.

I am hoping to blog here more as a journal of what I've read. I asked my library once if they kept track of what I borrowed so that I would know a tally of what I've read. Nope. Probably a good thing else they'd be in trouble for keeping too many stats on people for privacy reasons.

So just what have I read this year? Well, I won't count the two books I read at the tail end of last year on my new nook. (nook or Kindle? It was a tough choice.) But I will tell you that I am reading a book called Homespun Bride (hey, it was free at bn.com) and so far, so good. I really like historical romances. Our world now is so chock full of distractions, devices, etc. that it is almost refreshing to step back in time when people rode by horse, carriage or sleigh.

Stay tuned... I hope to keep this blog updated more frequently. Don't be shy - feel free to recommend a good book. If you know of any good free e-books, let me know that too!

Arcane Society books by Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick

2009-02-15T12:09:00.000-08:00

Recently, I have been reading some Jayne Ann Krentz and Amanda Quick books featuring the Arcane Society. A newsletter I received recently featured Sizzle & Burn and decided to read the book. I'm glad I did! That book made me want to go back to the beginning so I started requesting Arcane Society books from my local library. I recently checked out Second Sight, but didn't think it was nearly as good as Sizzle & Burn. I'm now reading The Third Circle, which is thus far turning out to be interesting.

For those who haven't been reading the Arcane Society books by Jayne Ann Krentz and Amanda Quick (one of her many pen names), then you really should. I found the paranormal aspects easily believable and the romance wasn't lacking either. My only beef with Second Sight was the over use of "one" at nearly every turn. Did people really talk like that in Victorian times? I found the use of "one" as a pronoun almost too much to bear, but overall enjoyed the book.

The Arcane Society books are set in past late Victorian times and also in the present. Present day settings reference our Victorian heroes and heroines from Amanda Quick's books. There's romance, mystery and paranormal/psychic threads to each of the novels and I do think that the series is well worth the read!

Tasha Alexander's A Fatal Waltz book review

2009-01-07T18:04:00.000-08:00

A Fatal Waltz

Book Four of the (mis)adventures of Lady Emily Ashton picks up not long after the end of A Poisoned Season. In A Fatal Waltz, Lady Emily is a true friend to Ivy and attends a shooting party at Lord Fortescue's estate. A murder at the shooting party puts Robert, Ivy's husband, in the spotlight as the main suspect for the murder. In order to save her dear friend's husband from hanging for a crime he didn't commit, Lady Emily takes her investigation on the road - to Vienna, a city full of life, artists and intrigue. Will Lady Emily be able to solve the murder case before Robert's trial? Colin makes an appearance in Vienna to lend a bit of assistance to her inquiries, of course, but is in clear and present danger.

What I liked about A Fatal Waltz, and previous books in this series by Tasha Alexander, is the strong will of Lady Emily. Four books later, she still is in love with Greek, Colin and port (but not necessarily in that order). Considering the time period (late 1800s), she is the exception and not the rule. Somehow, she maintains her independence despite agreeing to marrying Colin. In the end, I admit, I was surprised to find out who the killer really was. Hindsight is always 20/20 and the clues were there, if the reader is intuitive enough to piece the pieces of the puzzle together.

One thing I love about Tasha Alexander is that she has written this quartet of books in just about two years. That averages out to one book every six months. For me, that is a big plus because it's not so long the storyline fades from mind. I hate it when I find an author I love only to find out they write a book once every few years. I like consistency and so far, Tasha Alexander has provided that to me and I thank her for that. I am looking forward to the next installment of Lady Emily and I know it won't be too far in the future that I will again be engrossed in another one of Tasha Alexander's delicious novels.

Book Review of When the Duke Returns by Eloisa James

2009-01-02T10:13:00.000-08:00

When the Duke Returns by Eloisa James

I must confess that I am a huge fan of Eloisa James' historical fiction books. It was probably a year ago that I first discovered her and her Pleasures trilogy. From there I went right on to the Essex Sisters quartet and then found her Desperate Duchesses delicious! With When the Duke Returns we are treated to book four of the sextet.

When the Duke Returns begins with Isadore, the Duchess of Conway, at a house party awaiting her husband. However, for Isadore, the meeting of the Duke of Conway will be the first time she has met him. Betrothed as children, the two never had a formal church wedding since they were married by proxy while he was away. Simeon, the wayward Duke, returns to England because Isadore has decided it was high time that she her husband of 11 years... and she was quite tired of being a virgin. She hatches a plan to force his hand by attending one of Lord Strange's infamous house parties, knowing that word would reach her husband and he would rush to collect her to avoid scandal.

Simeon immediately realizes that Isadore is no wall flower. No, she is quite the opposite of the docile and biddable wife that his mother had written him numerous letters about while he was off chasing the source of the Nile. Instead, Simeon returns home to saucy wife, a dilapidated family pile that stinks to high Heaven, not to mention a pile of his father's unpaid bills. Simeon, too, isn't what Isadore expected. Sure, he's drop dead gorgeous, but she finds his old-fashioned notions of being the decision maker in the household almost too much to bear. She's been on her own for 11 years and is quite used to being her own boss. Realizing they'll never mesh properly, Simeon offers Isadore a solution: an annulment.

However, Isadore wants to make the marriage work and hatches a new plan to lure him to bed since you can't annul a marriage once it has been consummated.

Weaved in between the story line of Isadore and Simeon is more of the running story line of Jemma, the Duchess of Beaumont, Elijah (her duke) and Villiers. As you may remember, Jemma was involved in a high stake game of chess between the two men, that is until Villiers was nearly mortally wounded by her own brother. In this book, we see Villiers moderately recovered and learn of a new twist in the saga. Jemma, incidentally, will be the subject of the fifth book due out later in 2009.

Overall, I was not disappointed in this book at all. The idea of two polar opposites coming together (along with the revelation that though married 11 years, they are still both virgins!) makes When the Duke Returns a very interesting and enjoyable read.

Tasha Alexander's A Poisoned Season book review

2008-12-07T17:03:00.000-08:00

A Poisoned Season starts off with Lady Emily Ashton quickly becoming embroiled in the sudden rash of cat burglaries related to Marie Antoinette jewelry. When an acquaintence is murdered after she urged him to report the theft of a jewel, Lady Emily Ashton is convinced that the one charged with the crime is innocent and sets out to prove it as a favor to the man's widow. When the cat burglar burgles her own manse, it becomes personal.

Meanwhile, rumors are circulating about the virtue of Lady Emily and suddenly society is giving her the cut. Her feelings for Colin Hargreaves continue, while the cat burglar plays a game of cat and mouse with her. To quell the rumors, the Queen steps in and gives her an ultimatum she cannot refuse. Pressed for time, Emily must solve two mysteries, while dealing with her own personal drama.

A Poisoned Season has enough romance and intrigue to thrill any reader and I really felt that Lady Emily has started to grow into her own. She has just gotten to the part where she enjoys her freedom and begins to wonder if marrying would tie her down in such a fashion that she would lose all of what she has become. Lady Emily fans will not be disappointed and once finished with A Poisoned Season I look forward to the next book in the Lady Emily series, A Fatal Waltz. Santa has been given a list of must-have books this Christmas, and A Fatal Waltz is on the top of the list.

Glenn Beck's "The Christmas Sweater" book review

2008-12-07T16:36:00.000-08:00

I received The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck from a family member for my birthday last month and finally got around to reading it this weekend. The book touches heavily on events that were deeply personal for Glenn Beck and I must confess to several times having my eyes tear up, as the emotion evoked in the book by Eddie, the main character, was very real.

I'd previously thumbed through Glenn Beck's Inconvenient Truth book, and The Christmas Sweater is quite different from the Glenn Beck in that book. In The Christmas Sweater we follow a few years in the life of 13 year old Eddie, who had already lost his father to cancer when he was 9. Money is tight, but like Ralphie in A Christmas Story, there is only one thing he wants: a red Huffy bike with a black banana seat. Instead, what Eddie gets is a sweater.

I think most of us can imagine back to our childhood and wanting something so badly, only to be disappointed when it wasn't under the tree. This is a major connective point, I think, that draws the reader into the story. A petulant teen, Eddie learns the hard way why you should never let the moment pass when you owe someone you love an apology.

The Christmas Sweater is a bit of A Christmas Story and A Christmas Carol all rolled into one. The road to forgiveness for Eddie is not without its potholes. But in the end, Eddie realizes that love is constant. He also learns that nothing is as important as family.

I recommend Glenn Beck's A Christmas Sweater to anyone who loves a Christmas miracle or as a gift for those who need to learn forgiveness in their life. This book has truly been one of the best books that I have read this year and I can easily see it appearing on the big screen as a holiday classic if made into a movie. This book retails for about $20.

Robyn Carr's 4th Virgin River book: A Virgin River Christmas

2008-11-20T13:11:00.000-08:00

I recall clearly how I came to pick up my first Robyn Carr Virgin River book. I was in Borders (a rare treat since I generally rely on my library for books to read) and the cover intrigued me enough to turn it over and read the back. Mel seemed quite intriguing and the story line seemed interesting enough. However, as I came to know Mel and Jack and the subsequent Virgin River folks, I came to realize that what I liked most about the Virgin River series of books is that Robyn Carr's characters are real.

Her characters are real in that they are poor (like the rest of us) and don't have a million dollar trust fund to live the high life. Virgin River's residents are exactly how you would hope the folks would be in your own little town: friendly and genuinely concerned for your well being. The menfolk in this town may have left the Corps, but the Corps never left them. This tightly knit community takes care of its own, and the few strays that happen to stop in for a meal or a drink at Jack's bar.

In this fourth book, we are introduced to a spunky military widow desperately trying to find her deceased husband's war buddy who is traumatized by the War and his role in her husband's severe disabilities. Compelled by her desire for closure, she spends weeks trying to find him. Will they get a Christmas miracle? Will both have their hearts made whole again? I won't spoil the book, but I think you will enjoy meeting up with old friends and new ones too.

Did you miss the first three books? They are still out in paper back. I do think that each could stand on their own, yet reading the series from the beginning is so much more enriching and fulfilling to understanding the characters more fully.

Link to Robyn Carr's Website
Contest to win Virgin River Christmas

Virgin River Books: Virgin River, Shelter Mountain, Whispering Rock and Virgin River Christmas. Be on the lookout early next year for more books in this series.

Faith of My Fathers by John McCain

2008-10-28T04:49:00.000-07:00

With the election just a week away, many if not most Americans' minds are focused on the election. I know that I am voting for McCain, but couldn't resist picking up Faith of My Fathers from my local library since they'd elegantly displayed the books of both presidential candidates.

Faith of My Fathers is one of those books that you can really get into. In fact, I'd read half of it in about a week's time, and then polished off the rest on a lazy Sunday afternoon. What I liked about the book was the insight that it gave me into the mind of John McCain. I knew he'd been a prisoner of war in Vietnam and the book provided me with some details about the treatment he received. One quote in there struck a chord with me, though. He said really fell in love with America during his captivity. I can only imagine how horrible it must feel to be captured and held for 5-1/2 years, wondering if you'll ever get out alive to go home to your family. I would imagine that dreaming of American freedom is what kept these POWs going.

The book begins, however, with a few chapters on his famous Grandfather and Father. Ironically enough, all were Naval Academy grads, but none placed highly in their class at graduation. Nonetheless, they all succeeded. I have always held a great respect for our country's veterans.

Not to say that John McCain was perfect. He freely admits to arrogance and perhaps a bit too much bravado. He escaped death on the Forrestal only to be shot down later and held prisoner for 5-1/2 years. But throughout the book, you can get a glimpse into what makes him who he is. He talks about Veterans and fixing the VA system and I just know in my heart that he will do it.

Half way through the book, I logged on to Amazon and bought a copy for my dad. I hope he enjoys the book as much as I did.

Long time, no see

2008-10-28T04:48:00.000-07:00

I have been lagging behind at updating Rapacious Reader... but that doesn't mean I haven't been reading. You know how it goes.... too much to do, so little time. But I'm hoping that winter will give me a bit more time to read and blog.

The Word of Mouth Manual: Volume II, by Dave Balter

2008-07-27T17:27:00.000-07:00

I have finally finished reading The Word of Mouth Manual: Volume II, by Dave Balter, and offer my readers my opinion of this book.

I liked many of the anecdotes (aforementioned Tickle Me Elmo marketing story) and for the most part, enjoyed the pithy book, which was easy to read. Mr. Balter must have one heck of a sense of humor, as it was easy to see his droll humor in many parts of the book.

The most interesting part of the book for me was the chapter devoted to the revamp of the prize structure. It was nice to finally gain a grasp of what was going through their heads when they decided to chuck the old (more lucrative) system in favor of the new system, which just got rolled out about two months ago (Shaloha). Though he admitted that the so-called pests were actually still beneficial to BzzAgent in a way, it was clearly unfair to the rest of the agents who didn't sit around 24 hours a day and type up false reports just to earn points, sit on them, and then take campaigns later and nab all of the good prizes. I didn't get many prizes from BzzAgent under the old system; a juicer, a gaming pack, some cutting boards... but I did donate to charity a few times out of frustration because there was never anything for me there to redeem for that I had enough points for or that was something I would have wanted anyway.

Even though the Bzz reward program is less lucrative (Mypoints - 50 points doesn't buy anything!) I do feel that in the long-term, it will separate the wheat from the chaff. It will no longer be lucrative to file endless reports just for the sake of gaining points to grab high value items. Instead, if you do bzz more than two reports required per campaign to maintain your standing, you are obviously doing it for the love of Bzz.

The Word of Mouth Manual: Volume II, by Dave Balter would be an interesting read for those involved in marketing, business owners (small, medium or large) and of course, us Bzz Agents!

Celeste Bradley's Heiress Brides Trilogy

2008-07-09T15:17:00.003-07:00

I make no secret of loving series. I just hate reading a really superb book that leaves me wanting more, only to find that that's it, there's no more after and you are left wondering how things turned out for some characters in the back story. Having read Celeste Bradley's Heiress Brides trilogy, I am feeling pretty satisfied right now! I did not feel as if there were any loose ends that weren't tied up.

Book 1 of the Heiress Brides Trilogy: Desperately Seeking a Duke

As I mentioned in a previous post, this book starts out with 3 cousins vying for the family fortune. The winner takes all, provided they land themselves a Duke. It looks like Phoebe Millbury has it all sewn up, or does she? Cousin Dierdre is not very happy with Phoebe's match and bookish cousin Sophie couldn't care less since she has no intentions of marrying to win the fortune. Phoebe is torn between what she perceives as duty and penance and what her heart would much rather prefer to do. Desperately Seeking a Duke treats us to a budding romance in the back story, as well as focusing on poor Phoebe's plight. Duty or true love? Calder or Rafe? The ending to Desperately Seeking a Duke was a surprise for me and quite delightful in the way everything worked out in the end!

Spoiler alert:

If you haven't finished Desperately Seeking a Duke, please do so before you read on!

Book 2 of the Heiress Brides Trilogy: The Duke Next Door

Since Phoebe has now disqualified herself from her chance at the family fortune, Dierdre steps up to the plate with a rather matter-of-fact marriage proposal to Calder, who stepped aside for his brother Rafe to marry Phoebe. Allowing Rafe to marry Phoebe may have been the right thing to do for Rafe, but perhaps not for Calder, who has already been the subject of rumors and scandal in the past. Dierdre assumes that having rank will mean a happy life, but those dreams come screeching to a halt practically immediately after her wedding. It is then that she realizes that her betrothed left a little detail out before marrying her... one that will change her life forever. To add insult to injury, he treats her like a child and she and Calder engage in a game of cat and mouse. She loves him desperately, but she won't be whole until she wins his love. It looks like Dierdre has won the family fortune since Calder, a marquis, will soon inherit a dukedom from an ailing relative. Meanwhile, Sophie starts to get cozy with Dierdre's viperish step-mother's cousin, Graham Cavendish...

Spoiler alert, again! If you haven't read the past two books, please do so before reading further!

Book 3 of the Heiress Brides Trilogy: Duke Most Wanted

With Phoebe and Dierdre married off, Sophie Blake plans to enjoy the rest of the Season in London. She is socially awkward and has become good friends with Graham Cavendish, the fourth son of a Duke. Graham thinks has no prospects at gaining a title as a fourth son until a family tragedy thrusts the mantle of duty upon him. Suddenly, Graham inherits and needs a rich wife fast to save his estate and keep his cottagers from starving to death. A wonderful transformation by LeMenteur, a famed dressmaker featured in the previous books, suddenly makes bookish and awkward Sophie the belle of the ball! Graham realizes that he needs a rich wife and though he realizes his love for Sophie, he resists the match because he wants to do right by his cottagers, be able to pay creditors, and rebuild his family's estate. The end brings a good surprise about Sophie and we are left wondering if love is enough to get this star-crossed couple through.

All in all, I really enjoyed this series. The first book took me a while to get into, but it seemed that once I hit the half way point, the storyline flowed extremely fast and wonderfully. The chapters in all of the books were very short and held just enough mystery to get you to turn to the next chapter to find out what was going to happen next. I recommend this series to anyone who loves Regency Romances.

Celeste Bradley

2008-07-09T15:17:00.001-07:00

Busy reading Regency Romances

2008-06-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

I have been busy reading some yummy Regency Romances. First up was A Lady's Secret by Jo Beverly. Robin Fitzvitry, the Earl of Huntersdown, is traveling on the Continent when along comes Petra D'Averio, disguised as a nun, and a swearing one at that! Eager to escape her demanding traveling companion, Petra accepts a ride from Robin, which leads to danger and adventure. Petra isn't who she seems and neither is Robin. Petra just wants to get to England to present herself to her father, who does not know she even exists. At every turn, there is a stumbling block to her journey. Will she finally make it to England alive? Robin just wants to protect her, but this feisty female seems to be holding her own! Set in Georgian times, this romance was delightful to read, filled with symbolism and enchanting to read. Tied in with a previous series of the author, A Lady's Secret can stand alone by itself on its own merits!

Right now I am reading two books. One is juicy romance, the other is a book about Word of Mouth (WOM) advertising (hey, I am a BzzAgent).

I have just begun Desperately Seeking a Duke, the first installment from Celeste Bradley in the Heiress Brides series. Phoebe Millbury is just one of 3 cousins vying for the family fortune. The grandfather, disappointed because none of his daughters married below his expectations, offers a prize to the first of his granddaughters (or great granddaughters if it comes to that) to marry a Duke, or someone in line to succeed to a dukedom. I am confident this will be a sizzling read, so I have already reserved the next two books in the series from my local library.

I am currently part of the way through The Word of Mouth Manual: Volume II, by Dave Balter, who is the founder of BzzAgent, a very successful Word of Mouth (WOM) advertising company. For those you who haven't heard of BzzAgent, it is a unique marketing company that believes that word of mouth advertising is the best kind. Agents of BzzAgent receive product samples, coupons, etc. in the mail and then talk about them to friends, family, strangers... all to get buzz, er bzz, generated about a product. Many people tune out television advertising, but when a friend tells you about a cool new product, you are more apt to listen. Couple that conversation with a coupon (sometimes a free coupon) or product sample, and you have now created a positive bzz experience. Agents report back any bzz contacts and are currently rewarded with points which can be redeemed through MyPoints.

But I digress here... I have been reading The Word of Mouth Manual: Volume II, which was easily downloaded from Seth Godin's site. Seth is a marketing guru in his own right. The book, which is downloaded via .pdf file is about 100 odd pages long. It is very easy to read and so far has discussed some interesting bits about word of mouth marketing, touching on the memorable Tickle Me Elmo marketing strategy that brilliantly got many parents to buy this toy sight unseen! So far, it has proved interesting. I'll report back with a full report later. If you are interested, you can download your own copy from Seth's site (linked above). Once you've read it, do come back and post your thoughts on the book.

Finished with Odd Hours by Dean Koontz

2008-05-27T17:34:00.000-07:00

I polished off Odd Hours last night and now I have that feeling you get when you know you won't be seeing one of your good friends or relatives anytime soon.

In Odd Hours Oddie is back to save the world. His powers have changed in a surprising way (see link below to learn how you can get a sneak peek which will reveal this to you!) and he becomes enmeshed in a mystery that has the world as we know it in the balance.

This was one of the more violent Odd Thomas books that I have read, but really the violence is justified. You know how Odd is, he walks right into trouble courtesy of his psychic magnetism. He still mourns the loss of his soul mate, Stormy, and it doesn't seem like Oddie is getting a break saving the world for long. The time span between Odd Thomas and Odd Hours is only about 18 months. Odd has certainly not had much time off to relax!

Filled with a menagerie of odd and loveable secondary characters, Odd isn't totally alone in his quest to save us all from nuclear annihilation. The cast of supporting characters lend a lot of reality to the text and some of the dialog the passes between he and them is hard to follow, yet makes sense much later. Such is the life of Odd Thomas. Everything is a mystery that is revealed in its own time.

Boo is back and so is Frank Sinatra. One particular scene with Ole Blue Eyes was particularly spectactular and patriotic all at the same time.

If I had to rank the Odd Thomas series of books based on how well I liked the plot and overall storyline, I'd rank them in this order:

1 - Odd Thomas
2 - Forever Odd
3 - Odd Hours
4 - Brother Odd

Yes, this book was, in my humble opinion, better than Brother Odd, which I really liked too.

So, soon enough I will be packaging up Odd Hours and mailing it off to my sister for her to read. I spoke with her last weekend and told her I bought the book. She was excited to know that it would be coming her way soon.

Odd Thomas Webisodes

2008-05-20T18:03:00.001-07:00

Here are the Odd Thomas videos, which can be seen on YouTube.

Webisode 1

Webisode 2

Webisode 3

Webisode 4

I couldn't take it... I ordered Odd Hours from Amazon

2008-05-20T17:43:00.000-07:00

Amazon has Odd Hours as of the time I post this, at a price of just $17.82. Odd Hours' list price is $27, so I don't think I did too badly. Really, most of the time I am lucky enough to get a Borders coupon in my email, and even then, the max I have ever been able to get off a new release is 30%. So 34% isn't so bad after all, and I get it shipped free since I am a die hard Amazoner and signed up for Amazon Prime.

I am dying to get my paws on this book. The teaser I read the other day has been on my mind and I want to read this book so bad! I sent my copy of Brother Odd to my sister that I had gotten back when that book was released, so I know that my copy won't go to waste since she is a fan like me.

I am going to try to embed the You Tube videos that relate to Oddie. Wish me luck.

Dean Koontz' Odd Hours coming May 20th - get a sneak peek !

2008-05-17T18:04:00.001-07:00

If you are a fan of the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz, be sure to check out the Odd Thomas page on Mr. Koontz' site! Odd Hours, the fourth installment of the Odd Thomas series is debuting on May 20th. I already checked my library and there are 55 people ahead of me in the queue. I think I'll be buying this copy instead!

When I visited the author's site tonight, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could read the first two chapters of Odd Hours by signing up. After I signed up, a link was provided for me to read the content. All I have to say is wow!

A huge fan of Odd Thomas, I began reading the series when the Penguin had a channel on BzzAgent (I really, really miss that as I found lots of great books to read.) In that case, I had gotten an excerpt of the last book, Brother Odd, and was so intrigued I went back and read the previous books in the series.

What intrigues me about this series is the main character, Odd Thomas, and his uncanny abilities. I seem to have a preference for books dealing with dead people I guess since I read the Harper Connelly mysteries by Charlaine Harris as well as a few other macabre mystery authors.

Getting back to the two chapter excerpt, reading it was like bumping into an old friend. Odd Thomas is such a likable character and you really feel his pain. The poor guy has been through a lot in just 21 years of life! These two chapters will have you riveted to your seat and begging for more, or more to the point, wanting to run out on May 20th to grab your own copy to begin unraveling his latest adventure, not to mention find out just why Frank Sinatra is hanging out with Odd now that Elvis has gone home!

Links:

Dean Koontz' website

Odd Thomas' web page

Be sure to check out the webisodes!

Finished with First Patient by Michael Palmer

2008-05-08T12:44:00.001-07:00

Housework be damned, I just couldn't resist polishing off First Patient this afternoon. I did manage to load the dishwasher, mop the floors, run the vacuum and do two loads of laundry, so I figured I deserved a little break.

First Patient begins with Dr. Gabe Singleton receiving a visit from POTUS, that's President of the United States, Drew Stoddard. Drew is running for re-election and has his sights set on another term to continue his work as President. POTUS is looking for a new doc, since his has gone missing, and has flown to Wyoming to beg his former roommate to take the job. Somewhat reluctantly, Gabe takes the job and soon becomes enmeshed in Washington's political machine, whether he likes it or not.

Gabe finds out that his patient has been holding out on him. Rumors are swirling that the POTUS is mentally unstable. After witnessing a particularly bad episode, Gabe must decide whether or not to invoke the 25th Amendment and have the powers of the Presidency transferred to the VP. Along the way, he meets Alison Cromartie, a nurse assigned to the White House medical office, who ends up saving his life by rear-ending his car. It seems no one in Washington is who they appear to be. Gabe doesn't know who to trust or who to turn to for help. The POTUS is his primary concern above all else. Gabe must uncover the cause of the POTUS' transient attacks of mental instability.

The political intrigue plays out magnificently. I very much liked the pace of the book. None of the chapters are more than just a few pages and you are given many good places to stop reading, but you just want to keep going. The fast-paced storyline is well crafted and full of interesting plot twists. I felt an instant connection with characters; they were so real to me from page one. The use of nanotechnology in this book was intriguing and believable. First Patient has just the right mix of medicine, science, sleuthing and realism to make the story work. In my honest opinion, I think First Patient would make an awesome movie. In reading this book, I thought of Tom Clancy. So if you are a Tom Clancy fan, be sure to check out this book!

Reading now: First Patient by Michael Palmer

2008-05-08T07:41:00.000-07:00

So after reading Sell your home in any market : 50 surprisingly simple strategies for getting top dollar fast , I switched over to something a little more heavy and picked up First Patient, by Michael Palmer. I am nearly finished and will be posting a review very soon. All I have to say so far is, "WOW!"

I know I haven't been posting very much. I do like to read, but it just seems that the gremlins are getting in my way. After a nice jaunt to Disney for vacation, things around here are just hectic! I had to catch up on some things and even now, some weeks after our return, things aren't as caught up as I'd like. I'd really like to finish First Patient today, and I am trying to resist the urge to plow through, but I have mounds of laundry to do. Does anyone else out there neglect housework to read? I know I do...

Sell your home in any market : 50 surprisingly simple strategies for getting top dollar fast by Jim Renley

2008-05-08T07:19:00.000-07:00

I'd been hoping to be able to read Sell your home in any market : 50 surprisingly simple strategies for getting top dollar fast by Jim Remley this Spring and was not disappointed. It had been in my queue for a few months and finally I received notification that it was available for pick up at my library branch.

A little background: Ten years or so ago, I landed my first job at an attorney's office as a real estate closing secretary. I held that job for a few years before moving to Erie and subsequent better paying positions with larger firms. But really, I cut my legal teeth on real estate. There's a lot of work that goes into getting a house sold and closed and I must confess, Realtors are not my favorite. They are a necessary evil if you want to sell/buy your home and don't have the skills or time to sell/buy on your own. They are generally pushy by nature and would likely transition to a used car salesman job fairly easily with their high pressure tactics. And I am just talking about what they do to people like me who worked on files to get them to close!

So being a seasoned quasi-real estate professional in my past, I read this book with a grain of salt. I really didn't think that the author, Jim Remley, was going to tell me much more than I already knew. How wrong I was! While I did find most of the book to be old hat for me, I did glean some interesting tidbits of knowledge from Sell your home in any market : 50 surprisingly simple strategies for getting top dollar fast and I was able to thumb through and hit the highlights in a relatively short period of time.

Call me a sinner, but I shamelessly lent the book to my neighbor since they are FSBO'ing their home now. Sell your home in any market : 50 surprisingly simple strategies for getting top dollar fast is a great primer book for those who are planning to go it alone and FSBO their home in an attempt to avoid the hefty Realtor commission. It provides common sense advice strewn in with some personal anecdotes of the author, which show us all that even he, a seasoned real estate professional, can fall into the traps he wants his readers to avoid. I appreciated the tone of the book; it was very light and not condescending in any way.

As the World Churns: A Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery by Tamar Myers

2008-04-20T17:01:00.000-07:00

I seem to have a habit these days of picking up books mid-series and reading them without the benefit of a back story. I don't think that it is a bad thing; it actually is a plus in my book since there is nothing worse than waiting with baited breath for an author to release the next book in a series that you thoroughly enjoy. Such is the case with As the World Churns: A Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery by Tamar Myers.

I originally saw this book displayed in the rather small mystery section of my library. A native Pennsylvanian, I grew up near Amish, but not the Amish of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. I am familiar with many of the aspects essential to Amish and Mennonite life, so this book intrigued me.

As the World Churns focuses on the soap operaesque life of Magdalena Yoder Rosen. The book picks up at the honeymoon of Magdalena and her husband, lovingly referred to as the "Babester." Upon hearing the news of an escaped convict whom she helped convict previously, Magdalena promptly faints dead away. As she tries to solve the heinous crime committed against a dear friend, poor Magdalena keeps fainting at the most inopportune moments. Sandwiched in between chapters are yummy ice cream recipes that I am dying to try out.

As a character, Magdalena is a feisty, mouthy and at times very opinionated woman. She has no qualms about pointing out others mistakes and is often way out in left field on a tangent. She is also very funny and some of her antics will keep you in stitches as you unravel the mystery with her. I enjoyed the character so much, I do plan to go back and start at the beginning and get the rest of the back story, which was alluded to many times in this novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I must say, I was taken by surprise with the plot twists. I recommend As the World Churns to anyone who loves a nice, cozy mystery and a character with spunk. Most of her novel titles are puns and I find that very amusing. For more information about this book or to see the author's website, please click here.

And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander - a nice cozy mystery

2008-04-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

I requested Tasha Alexander's And Only to Deceive based on a fellow blogger's recommendation that it would be along the same lines as Deanna Raybourn's Lady Grey series.

I rather liked the book, but the plot seemed to drag on a bit. Comparing it to Deanna Raybourn's work would leave Ms. Alexander's work a little flat. Lady Julia Grey is a rather spunky lady and Lady Emily Ashton is less exciting in comparison. Both Ladies toss conventional behavior out the window, but Lady Julia comes out way ahead with her wit. Comparing the two Ladies as sleuths, it is evident that Lady Julia is more hands-on and active in investigating matters. I was somewhat disappointed that Lady Ashton wasn't more zealous in her pursuit of the investigation into her husband's death and possible criminal activities.

There were a few surprises in the plot, but nothing that I would call earth shattering by any means. I did, however, like the evolution of her character. She was meeker in the beginning and quite brazen by the end.

All in all, I found this mystery satisfying. I would read other books in this series because it was an interesting mystery.

Review of Christ The Lord The Road to Cana by Anne Rice.

2008-04-19T19:44:00.000-07:00

I finished Anne Rice's Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana just before my vacation. It was one of those books that was at first hard to get into and then hard to put down. Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana was also the kind of book that you need to let sink in or do some pondering over to fully appreciate.

Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana begins with Jesus still laboring away as a lowly carpenter, not knowing exactly what God's plan for him is. He struggles with very human feelings and for me, it was hard to try to put that into perspective. As a Catholic, I believe that he was conceived of the Virgin Mary and was born man. Somehow in my mind's eye, I viewed his upbringing a bit more divine, perhaps? I literally interpreted that phrase as meaning that he was born looking human like the rest of us, yet somehow different in that he was somehow absolutely perfect in everything he did and that he always knew God's plan for him.

With Anne Rice's imaginings, I began to see Jesus more as a true human and see him struggle with human feelings of love and love lost, not to mention human urges. This is what I meant in a previous post about having a hard time reconciling the book with my faith. Jesus to me is on a pedestal. He was never, forgive me Father, a horny guy. At first, this disgusted me. But I was able to work through those feelings because why wouldn't Jesus feel what we feel? Why wouldn't a normal man of 33 years have biological urges? Or worse, be accused of being homosexual because he had not married at such a late age?

It was like I was seeing things in a different light. In picturing him loving and losing and lusting (not in that particular order), I began to feel that Jesus was like me, a human. I think this was the point of the whole book. I don't think I am the only one who viewed Jesus as a completely perfect person who never had a lustful thought cross his mind. I always thought of him as having a one track mind--- all about God, 24/7; that from the moment he was conceived, he was completely holy and could do nothing wrong. Kind of like the kid in the class who always knew the answer to every question and never got into trouble in class.

All in all, I think this book is worth the read. While I had a hard time with the first half of the book, I did come to enjoy reading it and attempt to picture the plot in my mind. Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana held my attention and provoked thought while reading. I think you will enjoy it too.

Long time, no update

2008-04-19T19:38:00.000-07:00

Howdy all. I have been busy, but not too busy to read! I know it has been a few weeks since I updated... so sorry! I had been busy preparing to go on a week long dream vacation to Disney. Really, it was more my 7 year old's dream, but hey, adults are just big kids. Epcot was divine and I cannot wait until we can go back so I can get some more of those luscious desserts! While I was on vacation, I did manage to read two books and I did finish Christ the Lord. I will be posting my thoughts on that toute de suite. I also managed to devour a Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery by Tamar Myers and Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander, which was recommended by another blogger. I'll be posting about those soon too. Thanks for reading me, all 3 of you, LOL.

Christ The Lord The Road to Cana by Anne Rice - what I am reading now.

2008-04-02T17:48:00.000-07:00

I am currently reading Christ The Lord The Road to Cana by Anne Rice. I have read probably close to 100 pages so far. I normally don't read Anne Rice - too many vampire stories for my taste - but I am giving this one a chance. I am trying to keep an open mind, but it has been a little hard. I find myself reading a few chapters, then trying to analyze what I have read. I'll be back soon to post a full review. I am curious though if anyone else reading this book finds their faith clashing with their enjoyment of this book? Please make some comments as to your thoughts on this question.

~ Pinching Abe

Review: Big Boned by Meg Cabot

2008-03-30T11:03:00.001-07:00

Big Boned by Meg Cabot continues the trials and tribulations of Heather Wells, a former pop star. To be fair, I had not read any of the previous Heather Wells mysteries by Meg Cabot, but this book piqued my interest and I have added the previous books to my reading list.

What I enjoyed about Big Boned was the harried pace. Our heroine is once again embroiled in a death investigation, only this time it is her boss who has been murdered. Heather tries to stay out of the murder investigation, but people keep dragging her into it. Her big heart leads her to help some of the college students that she knows and cares about deeply. Meanwhile, her father and business partner try to lure her into re-entering the world of show biz and her emotions are all over the place as she tries to decide what to do about everything.

Mixed into the chaos of the murder investigation, we are treated to a very human character. Heather thinks about food a lot and like the rest of us, finds it hard to resist desserts! She is torn between the man she loves and the man she is with, does she confess her undying love for Cooper or move on with the math prof? Does she ditch the college job she loves for the lure of show biz? Such decisions! Heather Wells does what any sane woman would do in such situations: she goes and gets herself a Dove bar!

All in all, I found this book to be fast paced and a thoroughly enjoyable read. I plan to go back to the beginning of the series and read more about Heather Wells because she was such an interesting character. I recommend Big Boned by Meg Cabot both as a stand alone book and also to those who have been reading the Heather Wells mysteries.

Review: Silent in the Sancturary by Deanna Raybourn

2008-03-24T09:21:00.001-07:00

Silent in the Sanctuary is the sequel to Deanna Raybourn's debut novel, Silent in the Grave. Book Two picks up where we were left off in Silent in the Grave, with Lady Julia Grey living in Italy with two of her brothers.

Summoned to England, they can only assume that their father is unhappy at the news of her brother's marriage to volatile Violante, Lady Julia and her brothers head off to England in time for Christmas, bringing along an Italian Count as a house guest. Lady Julia and her entourage arrive to the family pile in Sussex, a beautiful abbey. Lady Julia is quite miffed to see none other than Nicholas Brisbane, who assisted her in the investigation of the murder of her husband in Silent in the Grave. Lady Julia Grey still carries a torch for Nicholas, who has not had any contact with her since her 6 month stay in Italy, much to Lady Julia's chagrin. Nicholas has not come to the house party alone... he has come with a fiancee in tow!

While playing a game of hide-and-seek, Lady Julia Grey hears a scream. As the guests rush into the Sanctuary of the old monastery, they see one of their guests dead on the floor. Complicating matters, Lady Julia's cousin claims credit for said murder and grabs on to the ring on the wall and asks for sanctuary.

In dealing with the horror of the death of a house guest and the onset of a heavy snow storm, the guests are snow bound and one of them is a jewel thief! At the same time, a crazy old aunt disappears and ghosts are afoot.

You'll have to read Silent in the Sanctuary to find out just who the real murderer is and why, I promise you will be shocked! What about the missing jewels? The missing crazy aunt? All will be neatly and creatively tied together at the end..and you will still be left wanting more.

Lady Julia Grey will be back in the third book in this series, Silent on the Moor. The book is yet unpublished (due out in 2009), but you can check out the author's blog here here. Ms. Raybourn's blog is just as witty as Lady Julia Grey.

Review: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose, by Lauren Willig

2008-03-24T08:50:00.001-07:00

As a fan of the historical romance genre, I eagerly awaited the next installment in the Pink Carnation series, The Seduction of the Crimson Rose. In this sequel, we are treated to the unconventional romance story of Miss Mary Alsworthy and Sebastian, Lord Vaughn. Mary, who is getting a bit long in the tooth to be getting married, is quite put out by her sister's accidental stealing of her fiance, Geoffrey Pinchingdale-Snipe. Mary can't help but be a bit upset (wouldn't you be?) about this and fears that her last Season will be do or die: either marry well (preferably a titled gentleman) or spinsterhood. Her parents are not financially well off, and Mary just can't stand the idea of her sister and her new brother-in-law (who was supposed to be her husband) footing the bill for her last Season.

Enter Sebastian, Lord Vaughn. As a favor to the real Pink Carnation, he approaches Mary with an offer to lure the elusive Black Tulip out of hiding. Mary's hair color and complexion are a perfect combination since the Black Tulip loves dark haired beauties, which he calls petals. Mary agrees, but on her own terms. She wants just one more Season as a last ditch effort to marry and asks for the cost of a Season in return for her foray into espionage.

Mary and Vaughn spar with words, both giving as good as they get. Sandwiched in between Mary and Vaughn's exploits, we are treated to the continuing saga of Eloise and Colin. In my opinion, this is beautifully done. As you are reading, you become so entranced in Mary and Vaughn's story that you can't wait to see what happens next, and then there's a chapter about Eloise and Colin. Colin, who is a modern day ancestor of the Pink Carnation and Purple Gentian of previous novels. After reading the chapter on Eloise and Colin, you are left wanting more and reluctantly go back to Mary and Vaughn's story. It is almost torture to wait a few more chapters for the next installment of Eloise and Colin, but sweet torture since you are enjoying Mary and Vaughn's witty repartee.

Poor Mary falls in love with Vaughn, a man she cannot have. Like poor Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre, Lord Vaughn seems to have a wife that gets in the way at the most inopportune moment. Will Mary and Lord Vaughn ever find happiness in light of this revolting development? You'll have to read The Seduction of the Crimson Rose to find out. You won't be disappointed; you'll only hunger for more.

I enjoy this series a great deal and with the end of each book, I anxiously await the next. For a sneak peak into the as yet untitled Book V, please check out the author's site by clicking here.

Library fines and finishing reading books

2008-03-24T08:49:00.001-07:00

I know what you are thinking. I, myself, find it selfish when people keep books well past their due dates just to finish them. And I am an offender, but only occasionally. As a general rule, I return my books on time, unless I am able to renew them from the comfort of my laptop computer late at night in my fuzzy pink robe.

But recently, I was caught up in the rare situation where I had placed books in the queue, only to have them come unexpectedly early and all at once. When you are quite down the list, and don't expect to get a book for a month or more, it is a surprise to get notified that your requested book has come in early.

Such as I found myself with Big Boned by Meg Cabot and The Seduction of the Crimson Rose by Lauren Willig. Both were due Friday and well, I didn't return them. The fines really won't be too much and really, my library isn't open again until tomorrow, so I didn't keep them too long past their due date. Had I returned them, it would be months before I got them back...worth the dime a day fine in my opinion. I was able to plow through both titles this weekend and will be posting reviews soon.

Finally finished with An Irish Country Doctor

2008-03-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

An Irish Country Doctor
by Patrick Taylor, M.D.

Ah, at last I have finished An Irish Country Doctor and have put some distance between me and the book so that I can give a fair assessment. I find that if I spend a short while reflecting on the book, I have a clearer picture of just what I got out of a book.

To be honest, I found An Irish Country Doctor a little hard to get involved in, it took me probably half of the book before I felt that the story started to get intensely interesting.

In the first chapter, we meet a few of the locals and are introduced to our two main characters, Doctors Barry Laverty and Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly. Barry arrives in Ballybucklebo, a quaint Irish town, to take the job as a GP's assistant. Barry is quite young, and as such, is not well tuned with the ways of the world. Sure he has book learning, but there's no life experience to make the package complete.

He first meets Fingal, just as he is tossing a patient into a bush, all due to the patient failing to give his foot a good washing before he asked the doctor to take a look at it. Barry is horrified and fears this incident is a sign that he should just turn around and never look back. But Barry ends up sticking around, meeting the quirky residents of this town. Along the way, he gains experience in how to deal with country folk and a thing or two about life, love and loss.

Many years ago, I enjoyed the All Creatures Great and Small books by James Herriott. I must confess, in my mind I superimposed Fingal for Siegfried and Barry for James. They seemed to have the same type of relationship and Fingal was just as quirky as Siegfried ever was in the novels. One thing that did bother me quite a bit was the constant spouting of quotes from literature. It was quite overdone and most of it was lost on me. Perhaps it is because I live on this side of the Pond? But some of the quotes were quite archaic and obscure in nature and it was almost like sitting through an English Lit 101 class for an entire semester.

That being said, I do think that the book is worth a read. I enjoyed the book for the most part and was very pleased with the ending. The interweaving of the characters is craftily done and well thought out. Dr. Taylor also makes good use of Irish colloquialisms and mannerisms, which does help one immerse oneself into the story.

Library notices via e-mail - The Seduction of the Crimson Rose

2008-03-04T12:44:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I love my library (except for the hours, of course). Since I live in rural VA, the nearest large library is about an hour away. However, the library system does have several satellite sites for us country bumpkins. My library is not open every day, and even then not the whole day on most of those days that they are open. This was one of the hardest aspects for me to get used to when we moved to this town. I was quite used to a library that was open 9-9 on every day of the week.

But I digress. This post was about my e-mail notice. When a requested book is available for pick up at your library, you either receive notice by mail, or if you prefer, you can receive your notice via e-mail. I signed up for notices via e-mail figuring that over the course of a year, I would surely be saving them enough to buy a few good books. So there it was, in my inbox. A notice to pick up a book that I could not possibly pick up for days because my library was not open. Talk about frustration! I have been waiting impatiently for this book for a year and now. I guess another day or two wait won't kill me. Meanwhile, I'll trudge through An Irish Country Doctor, though really, I'd rather be losing myself in a Regency Romance.

Deanna Raybourn's debut novel "Silent in the Grave"

2008-03-02T17:09:00.000-08:00

I happened upon "Silent in the Grave" quite by accident. I had let my magazines pile up and decided I would do a quick run through before sending them to the curb. I saw an advertisement in the All You magazine and read the description. It sounded like it wouldn't be a bad read, I thought. So I logged on to my library's website and was pleasantly surprised to see that there was not a queue a mile long ahead of me to read this book.

When it came, I thought it would be a nice way to pass the time. From reading the back of the book, I felt that it would read much like an Agatha Christie novel, which was not a bad prospect at all. The novel is written in the first person, with Lady Julia Grey narrating. I knew immediately that I would not be disappointed when I read the opening line: "To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband's dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor." I knew right then and there that I would be in for a jolly good read!

As the book unfolds, Lady Julia Grey investigates the murder of her husband, along with Nicholas Brisbane, a man with secrets of his own. The book is set in late 1800s England, a time when society was still concerned with proper behavior and did not tolerate the shock jock type of a society that we live in today. Her family is quirky, to say the least, but yet you come to appreciate and like them for all of their faults. As the book comes to its climax, you can't help but think that you were blind sided with the identity of the killer and the circumstances thereof. This book is no light weight in tackling sensitive societal taboos, either. It seems the March Family has a family history of having square pegs among them.

The book ended with just enough mystery left to encourage you to follow through to sequel, Silent in the Sanctuary, which I will critique at a later date. This book was skillfully written with lots of wry humor that you can't help but appreciate. I could not wait to get my hands on the sequel and waited with baited breath for it to be published. Don't miss out on a great mystery with a sleuth who does not take a backseat to any man! Lady Julia Grey has a mind of her own, and she uses it with great skill. This book has it all, mystery, humor and romance all tied up in one neat little package.

This book is currently available via Amazon. It is listed in the list in the left side bar if you are interested in purchasing the book. I encourage all of my readers to use their public libraries whenever possible. Please visit http://www.silentinthegrave.com to read an excerpt of this book.

Rapacious Reader

2008-03-02T14:47:00.000-08:00

I know what you're thinking. Rapacious? Well, it was the closest I could get to "voracious" with available urls for Blogger. Ravenous reader? That, too, was already taken. Rapacious doesn't quite have the same synonymous meaning with voracious, but it is close enough for me. Besides, Rapacious Reader does have sort of an alliterative quality to it. So Rapacious Reader it is!

Why'd I start this blog? Simply put, I read voraciously. Insatiably at times. I secretly enjoyed writing book reports in school and when I read a good book, I want to share my experience with others so that they, too, may enjoy the adventure.

So check back soon, I have read some delicious novels of late and will be posting my reviews soon!